Karen DeWitt

New York, NY —

Under provisions of budget bills aimed at closing the state’s looming deficit, New York’s bottle law will be expanded, and the state will keep most of the nickels. Karen DeWitt has more.

REPORTER: The bill would extend the the five cent deposit now required on beer ...

New York, NY —

No deals yet in Albany on an array of legislative issues- from subway fares and drug laws to tax increases. Legislative leaders say they are working toward a budget agreement, but can’t say yet how they will close the $16 billion deficit. Reporter Karen Dewitt ...

New York, NY —

Governor David Paterson is encouraging low income New Yorkers to take advantage of the earned income tax credit available on tax filings. Karen DeWitt reports from Albany.

New York, NY —

New York's Senate Republican minority leader says Democrats are excluding the GOP from the state budget process. Karen DeWitt reports from Albany.

New York, NY —

Today's not only Saint Patrick's Day. It also marks one year in office for Governor David Paterson. After Eliot Spitzer resigned over a prostitution scandal, Paterson was sworn in as New York's 55th governor. And today, he took a moment to reflect on what's been ...

New York, NY —

Governor Paterson says he's ready to reform the state's 34-year-old Rockefeller Drug Laws. He attended a rally today with other reform advocates.

Paterson is a long time backer of reforming the drug laws which mandates that judges sentence non-violent drug offenders to often lengthy prison terms.

He ...

New York, NY —

Governor Paterson says he's ready to repeal New York's 34-year-old Rockefeller-era drug laws. He attended a rally yesterday with reform advocates. Karen DeWitt has more. REPORTER: Paterson is a long time backer of reforming the drug laws which mandates that judges sentence non-violent drug offenders ...

New York, NY —

Senate Republicans were the first at the State Capitol to release their alternative to Governor Paterson’s state budget. Reporter Karen Dewitt has more.

DEWITT: The senate Republicans, who are in minority in that house by just one seat, reject both Governor Paterson's dozens of new taxes ...

New York, NY —

Governor Paterson met publicly with legislative leaders to brief them on the transportation grants that New York will receive as part of the federal stimulus package. Lawmakers have expressed concern that they might be left out of the decision-making process for the distribution of billions ...

New York, NY —

Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith says his democratic members are preparing to discuss whether to tax New York's wealthiest residents. Karen DeWitt has more from Albany.

REPORTER: There are two bills circulating among senate majority democrats that would increase income taxes on the wealthy. One with ...

New York, NY —

New York State is back in black for the time being. Governor Paterson announced the legislature passed a bill that will close the $1.6 billion budget gap and balance the books for the current fiscal year. Karen DeWitt reports from Albany.

REPORTER: Governor Paterson and Democratic ...

New York, NY —

Lawmakers in Albany are tight-lipped about potential budget cuts they'll need to make this week to close the state's $1.5 billion gap. Karen DeWitt reports from Albany.

REPORTER: The legislature is working towards a self-imposed deadline of later this week, after Governor Paterson rescinded his request ...

New York, NY —

New York Democrats are celebrating now that they've elected a state senate leader and officially take control of the legislature for the first time in nearly four decades. Karen DeWitt has more from Albany.

New York, NY —

After nearly 10 months in office, Governor Paterson gets to deliver his first State of the State address later today. As Karen DeWitt reports, the speech may give the governor a chance to discuss something other than the budget deficits he’s focused on for the ...

New York, NY —

It looks like Queens Democrat Malcolm Smith will get to call himself state senate majority leader. After weeks of wrangling with three dissident Democrats, Smith has gotten his party to coalesce around him for the post. Karen DeWitt has this update from Albany.

New York, NY —

In 2008, David Paterson became New York's first African-American and legally blind governor when the previous governor, Eliot Spitzer, resigned amid a sex scandal. Karen DeWitt takes a look back on Paterson's eventful first nine months in office.

New York, NY —

Saying New York faces the “worst economic crisis since the Great Depression,” Governor Paterson released a $121 billion budget yesterday that slashes spending for health care and education and proposes a wide array of new fees. Karen DeWitt has the details from Albany.

New York, NY —

Queens State Senator Malcolm Smith is refusing to confirm the new roles the so-called Gang of Three will play when the Democrats take control of the Senate next month...even though the trio has been discussing their new jobs with the media for days. Smith, the ...

New York, NY —

Emergency food providers say they're still holding out hope that Gov. Paterson will increase welfare benefits as more people show up hungry. Karen DeWitt reports from Albany.

New York, NY —

For more than a month, New York lawmakers in Albany were bracing themselves for a brutal, budget-cutting session. But the governor called it off when it became clear he'd get no cooperation from key lawmakers. Karen DeWitt has more from Albany.